Interview mit Millex in Deutsch
When you think of the electronic music scene in Stuttgart, you automatically think of Neue Heimat, the Prag Club and legendary parties. But even today the city has much to offer in terms of electronic music. Millex, DJ and founder of FeierAbend Kombinat, gives us a little insight into his work and today’s music scene in Stuttgart.

How did you get into music?

Well, basically, I believe that we all have music in us. Thereby it does not matter if someone says he is not musical at all. Each of us has a certain “groove”. Therefore, I did not get into music, because the music was always in me. But I know what you mean. Initially I got music from people who didn't care anymore about what they had. I am from East Germany and it was like that during this time. The “Music from the West” could only be bought on the black market in the area where I lived, often a few black market stands next to the Konsum.

Besides small LCD video games I discovered tapes there as well. I bought these tapes blindly, if I liked the cover. Because of this I discovered e. g. Snap!, Technotronic or MC Hammer (laughing). These drums and beats follow me to this day. At that time I could not understand why people are simply run away, some of them just left all their stuff behind and run. But they did a really good job. I have always wanted to say thank you. “Thank you”.

I also discovered a radio station by chance which played electronic music. As far as I can remember, it was a radio show presented by Marusha. This was the first time ever, that I listened to Techno and I was immediately infected. I looked for all this stuff, but had to wait until the Berlin Wall fell in order to get my first Techno and House compilations. And then, destiny ran its course (laughing).

How important is music in your life?

I am listening to music at all time. I listen to music while I work because my profession relates to music or sound itself, in my free time and in between. Therefore, music has a high priority in my life. For me, music is relaxation, ecstasy, an adventure, a feeling. Music is life. Life means being human and music is human. Music is in everybody and each of us embodies music in his own way and manner. I would say, without music we would be a cheerless crowd here and I as well.

How would you describe your music style?

Well, actually you should ask the others, but I would say a little chaotic. That’s how I am.
I am very influenced by dark stuff; but slightly crazy. I don’t like monotone tracks very much, although they have their own charm. Anything that has a creepy mood, let me put it this way, has evil energy turns me on. I think this balances me out, because I am not dark, creepy and evil at all.

When did you start DJing?

I told you that I listened to these radio shows, where DJs played as well. When I got my first cassette recorder with two cassette decks – I think I was 11 at that time – I started mixing with it. You could adjust the speed with the pause bottom or could produce effects. At night, I watched MTV Party Zone, much to the annoyance of my parents. I recorded the tracks on VHS and transferred it to the tapes in order to mix the tracks. This was my first attempts of mixing.

At the age of 16 I went out for the first time. I went to clubs like Oz, Nexus6, M1 and Splash. In between I always went to a friend’s place who owned record players, because I was quite fit after the parties, I started playing records. I was sort of the After Hour DJ who played music all time. After sometime, I bought my own record players and records.

What would you like to express with your music?

Basically, I am not a person who presorts his records at home and plays at the club. I just put my records together, which I would like to play and I let the real thing happen at the club. I always feel like taking all my records with me though… ;)

What kind of music are you listening in private?

Actually the music I am playing. When I am traveling in private, in between, I listen to Techno and often Electro-Break stuff as well. Even when I get home, the first thing I am doing is turning on the record player and playing a records. But there is more.

I listen to tons of music, depending on my mood. For example, I can recommend Ane Brun or London Grammar, a young band from England, or The XX. I also listen to Nina Simone, Herbie Hancock, Depeche Mode or The Cure. Tip: The new album from Malia, produced by Boris Blank from Yello or Soap & Skin. Classical music, opera and especially piano pieces I like very much. I even played the piano for a short time, because of financial reasons and the lack of time I had to give it up. I would like to play again; I mean I would like to learn it again. I hope that my mother-in-law can help me and teach me, a big hello to her!Which artists had a lasting influence on you and still affect you?

„Aftermath“ by Nightmares on Wax has impressed me for example. It was a magical moment when I listened to this track for the first time. The video and the track just fascinated me and is still fascinating me today. At the beginning I listened to Rave, Gabber, Acid, House and Trance, those elements I find again and again in new “favorite tracks”. And I have to admit, that the tapes of my childhood still affect me today.

By the way, Daniel Benavente is to “blame” for my musical output. He and Tanja influenced me musically very much with their event Neue Heimat and with their bookings. For example, Neil Landstrumm, Tobias Schmidt, Jamie Lidell, Justin Berkovi, Jason & Phil or Dave Tarrida just to mention a few, have and still greatly affected me with their tracks and sets. If I never had the chance to experience this, I really don’t know how my life would be today. As well as the time at clubs before Neue Heimat started…. I don’t want to miss anything of it, because of this I am what I am; and musically as well.

Tell us something about the FeierAbend Kombinat project? Is there a special meaning of the name and logo?

The FeierAbend Kombinat was formed in 2010. Neue Heimat did not exist in Stuttgart anymore and no proper parties were organized anymore in our area. We only started it, not because we wanted to play somewhere, but we wanted to listen to our favorite music in a club atmospher.

Danial and I, we formed the FeierAbend Kombinat. After one year Daniel had to quit, he went on his own because it did not work. I continued alone for a while and then one of my best friends Toni (Antonio Marques, the bomber ofBombtrap Records)entered. In addition, my wife, who likes music as well, started working with us.

The logo symbolizes the cohesion, showing that we want to do all our projects together and still do. It’s not about achieving any profit, of course we invest money. If money remains, great, we save it for the next party or we produce t-shirts, such as the “Death to Vinyl” t-shirts by Jason Leach (Subhead). In fact, FeierAbend Kombinat isn't just us three, but all the people who party at our events. Together we are FeierAbend Kombinat. By the way, if somebody wants to organize a FeierAbend Kombinat event, just contact us.

Subhead, the Electronic Weed Department and Mercurochrome from Switzerland have played at our parties. Michael Forshaw played a glaring set, Hanno Hinkelbein, MasCon and Scott Robinson were guests as well. Even Neil Landstrumm and Tobias Schmidt played as Sugar Experiment Station at our party; a dream came true for me. There are also “new” artists who play a different music style than at Neue Heimat. At our last party we had Joe Farr, Sunil Sharpe and Axel Sohns play. There's more to come in the future.

We try to do all of our parties in a certain structure. We want to work with artists we respect, that are pleasant (this is very important for us) and who play great music. The Lehmann Club for this kind of party is too big, this would not work. As soon as we find a suitable location, we will start. If anyone knows a proper location, please let us know.

Finally, a short story, why we took the name „FeierAbend Kombinat“. We have to thank Siggi for this. Siggi is like the kind soul of the club. He has been there since the beginning, at the Prag and now at the Lehmann Club. Every time, when a party was over, Siggi went through the location and shouted: “F E I E R A B E N D, get out now… (note: Feierabend = closing time (coll.)). This is the real reason, we're called FeierAbend Kombinat, just as a reminder of the good old times at the club.

Tell me something about the development of the party scene in Stuttgart? What, in your opinion, has changed during the last years?

Stuttgart is constantly changing. At the moment the situation is a little bit more sensitive here than in other cities. Many buildings are under construction, a lot of people complain that nothing is going on here, but this is not true. It is correct that there are many obstacles made by politics, a lot of buildings are being destroyed as well and there are a lot of requirements which have to be met and as soon as you fulfilled everything, the city decides if you can organize an event or not. A lot of promoters of independent parties have difficulties in fulfilling the legal requirements because of the lack of money.

Due to the city planning, the cultural room disappears for other things. This is very sad. But when one door closes, another one opens. In Stuttgart, there are already possibilities to do things. We have a support association, where you can present your concept. This association partially can make locations available, which are free for a certain time. But this happens very rarely and is quite difficult to get.

Especially for young people. Because you cannot only go there and tell them “We want to organize a party”. But the “young ones” come up with other ideas, e.g. taking their laptops and going to the city park or to an isolated backyard and party. Normally these parties run quite smooth; except in the city park.

Well, Stuttgart is living and fighting. But above all, we organize parties, even if they make it difficult for us.

I have to admit that our FeierAbend Kombinat project is a little different; there aren't so many clubs, in which we fit properly, except the Lehmann Club. Off locations are really rare here as well.

Are there any projects you are currently working on?

Yes, there are. Of course FeierAbend Kominat; we still have a lot of good stuff in the pipeline. But also things, that I cannot talk about right now (laughing). There are a few small projects lying musically in a different directions which I want to do with my friends. Electro music is one of my hobbies; I am talking about the Old School Electro with broken beats like Aux 88, Dymanic Bass System and others. Unfortunately, there is “still” no proper music scene here, but we are working on it.

Furthermore, there is a private project,Café Seyffer’s. The café is a life project of my wife and I am involved in it. It is the center of our life and located in the western part of Stuttgart. You can get everything what your heart desires, a delicious breakfast, fresh cakes and freshly brewed coffee. So, if you are around the corner, just come over. And of course, there is the project with my wife in general. J

"This is a brief tribute I made to the experimental work of the BBC
Radiophonic Workshop who recently staged a performance in London, that I
couldn't attend. All the sounds and loops originate from the BC8 synth,
the Gakken SX-150 synth and the BugBrand Weevil synths.

I've ( Denard Henry) been programming the music for Inspire Dance Planet [IDP] in Second Life [SL]

for a few years now, on a mission to bring something special to the Metaverse.

Not just to give you the bang of the electronic music genre, but the beautiful spectrum as a whole.

I've been enjoying this sonic journey and so have some of the SL Residents:

"Your music is uplifting, like eletric nrg! The mix of beats rolled into one is simply awesome. I have heard DNB reggae industrial, electro soul house fusion funk and noise mixed into various tunes, some of which i actually remember, lol! :x Lalalala!!! Getting old denard, but i'm lurving it bwahahaaa!" - xXFuSe

About Us

We are a collective of artists and DJs that provide a unique style of underground Techno, Electro, EBM, Rhythmic Industrial, Old School and New School to a new generation of sonic seekers. We fight against narrow thinking, intolerance and ignorance.